Autopsy results released in Clarksdale mayoral candidate's death

Marco McMillian, the Clarksdale mayoral candidate who was found murdered near the Mississippi River levee in February, died of asphyxiation, according to the autopsy report released Friday by the Coahoma County Coroner's office.

The autopsy was performed on McMillian on Feb. 28, a day after he was found dead by law enforcement officers on the edge of the woods near the levee on Highwater Road in Coahoma County.

He was found naked, lying on his back with his feet and hands covered with brown paper bags, according to the autopsy report.

"The 33-year-old male identified as Marco McMillian died as a result of asphyxia of undetermined etiology, and the manner of death is homicide," stated the report signed by Dr. Mark LeVaughn, the chief medical examiner with the Mississippi Medical Examiner's office in Jackson.

According to the autopsy report, there were burns on McMillian's face, legs, neck, back and calves, and trauma to the head consistent with a beating. LeVaughn wrote that it could not be determined if the burns to McMillian's body occurred before or after death.

LeVaughn also reported scratches on McMillian's face and arm, and abrasions on his knees that indicated a "drag type" injury."

Few details concerning how McMillian died had been provided by authorities before Friday's release of the autopsy report, although McMillian's family said earlier in a statement that they were told that he was beaten, dragged and set on fire.

Coahoma County sheriff's officials said Reed was driving McMillian's sport utility vehicle on Feb. 25 when it was involved in a crash near the Coahoma/Tallahatchie County line.

McMillian was not in the SUV, and was reported missing after the accident.

According to the autopsy report, Reed, while recovering from his car crash injuries at the Regional Medical Center in Memphis, admitted to authorities that he killed McMillian and dumped his body near the levee.

Reed remains in the Coahoma County jail without bond, and his case is expected to go to the grand jury soon.

McMillian's murder drew national attention because he is believed to be one of the first openly gay candidates to run for office in Mississippi.

A native of Clarksdale, McMillian announced his candidacy for mayor in January. He said he entered the race because he wanted to combat crime and bring economic development to the city of 17,000 people.

A graduate of Jackson State University, McMillian was CEO of MWM & Associates, a professional consultating firm for nonprofit organizations. He was former international executive director of his fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma.

"We are happy that the report has been released because it shows what we have been saying, and that is Marco was brutally murdered," said Carter Womack, McMillian's godfather and a spokesman for the family. "We are still calling for the FBI investigation to ensure justice will be served."

In March, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., asked the FBI to "review the circumstances and evidence" in the slaying of McMillian. Thompson, whose daughter attended college with McMillian, said he had known McMillian for years.